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The Galápagos Cruise  ·  Wildlife

Galápagos Wildlife: 25 Animals and Where to See Them

25
species recorded
14
found only here
15
islands
US$1,800
per guest, double occupancy

Twenty-five animals account for most of the reason people come to Galápagos, and fourteen of them live nowhere else on earth: the giant tortoise, the marine iguana, the flightless cormorant, the waved albatross, the only penguin that breeds on the equator. All twenty-five are recorded across the 15 islands our ships call at, and no single itinerary reaches all of them. The best get to twenty-four, a typical departure to eighteen.

Where you go decides more than when. Fifteen of the twenty-five are on record all year, so the itinerary matters more than the calendar. The waved albatross is on Española and nowhere else, and it is at sea from January to March. The flightless cormorant is on Fernandina and Isabela only, in the cold water of the west. The Santa Fé land iguana lives on the one island it is named after. Blue-footed boobies dance from June to August, the male frigatebirds of Genovesa inflate their red throat pouches from March to June, sea lion pups arrive between August and November, and the marine iguanas of Punta Suárez turn red and green from December to March. Green turtles, white-tipped reef sharks and brown pelicans turn up almost everywhere, on ordinary snorkeling stops and at every landing. The map below shows which island holds what, and the list further down counts only the departures that are in the right place in the right month.

9 of 12 species shown
almost alwaysoftensometimesnot in this month

Darwin's Finches

Geospiza / Camarhynchus spp.

Where
on most islands
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 82 of 97 routes · 1978 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Fur Seal

Arctocephalus galapagoensis

Where
7 sites on 5 islands, mostly Central
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 82 of 97 routes · 1992 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Land Iguana

Conolophus subcristatus

Where
7 sites on 6 islands, mostly South
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 83 of 97 routes · 2012 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Penguin

Spheniscus mendiculus

Where
8 sites on 5 islands, mostly West
When
Year round, more between Jun and Nov
JFMAMJJASOND

On 78 of 97 routes · 1861 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis spp.

Where
10 sites on 5 islands, mostly Central
When
Year round, more between Jun and Dec
JFMAMJJASOND

On 85 of 97 routes · 2064 departures in season

See these departures  →

Galápagos Sea Lion

Zalophus wollebaeki

Where
on most islands
When
Year round, more between Aug and Nov
JFMAMJJASOND

On 86 of 97 routes · 2108 departures in season

See these departures  →

Red-footed Booby

Sula sula

Where
5 sites on 4 islands, mostly North
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 53 of 97 routes · 1130 departures in season

See these departures  →

Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

Where
5 sites on 5 islands, mostly South
When
Year round, more between Jun and Nov
JFMAMJJASOND

On 12 of 97 routes · 214 departures in season

See these departures  →

White-tipped Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

Where
on most islands
When
Year round
JFMAMJJASOND

On 40 of 97 routes · 855 departures in season

See these departures  →

The full lists, group by group

The fifteen above are the shortlist. Each group has its own page with every species on record, the same island map and the same departure check.

Select a departure that actually reaches it

1011 of the 2108 upcoming departures put you where the Brown Pelican is, at the time it is there.

1011
  • You see it. The ship is at the site while the species is recorded there.
  • Right island, wrong month. The route calls there outside the months on record.
  • Never gets there. The route does not call at any of its sites.
27/09/2026US$3,600

Galaxy Stella  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Fur Seals

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

Punta Cormorant, day 7

Stragglers11 spotsAsk about this date
28/09/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Punta Cormorant, day 7

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$3,735

Treasure  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Los Gemelos' Daylight Owl

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
29/09/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$3,352

MONIQUE  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Santa Cruz's Wild Tortoises

Punta Cormorant, day 2

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Punta Cormorant, day 9

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
01/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CAB

Punta Cormorant, day 9

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$3,320

Solaris  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Devil's Crown Hammerhead Sharks

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers13 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
02/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CAB

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$3,992

ELITE  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
03/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route CAB

Punta Cormorant, day 13

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
05/10/2026US$10,300

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route AB

Punta Cormorant, day 12

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$5,130

Galaxy Sirius  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Sea Lion Colony

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
06/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route ABC

Punta Cormorant, day 13

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$4,956

Tribute  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$11,150

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route AB

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
07/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers14 spotsAsk about this date
08/10/2026US$8,345

Archipel I  ·  Archipel I: Route A5B

Punta Cormorant, day 9

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
09/10/2026US$8,300

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route AB

Punta Cormorant, day 7

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
09/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route ABC

Punta Cormorant, day 7

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
11/10/2026US$1,800

Galaxy Stella  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Fur Seals

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$5,295

Archipel I  ·  8-Day Southern & Northern: Prince Philip's Booby Steps

Punta Cormorant, day 5

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$8,300

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BC

Punta Cormorant, day 7

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
12/10/2026US$14,095

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route BCA

Punta Cormorant, day 7

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
13/10/2026US$3,735

Treasure  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Los Gemelos' Daylight Owl

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
13/10/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
13/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
15/10/2026US$5,992

ENDEMIC  ·  Western Galápagos Islands

Punta Cormorant, day 2

Stragglers8 spotsAsk about this date
15/10/2026US$3,352

MONIQUE  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Santa Cruz's Wild Tortoises

Punta Cormorant, day 2

Stragglers9 spotsAsk about this date
15/10/2026US$3,295

Archipel I  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Bold Mockingbird

Punta Cormorant, day 2

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date
16/10/2026US$4,150

Solaris  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Devil's Crown Hammerhead Sharks

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
16/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers5 spotsAsk about this date
20/10/2026US$4,845

Galaxy Sirius  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Sea Lion Colony

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers6 spotsAsk about this date
21/10/2026US$4,956

Tribute  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Espanola's Albatross Colony

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers11 spotsAsk about this date
21/10/2026US$11,150

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route AB

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
21/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route ABC

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
25/10/2026US$2,880

Galaxy Stella  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Isla Lobos' Fur Seals

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
25/10/2026US$18,000

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route BCA

Punta Cormorant, day 13

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
27/10/2026US$4,150

Treasure  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Los Gemelos' Daylight Owl

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers4 spotsAsk about this date
27/10/2026US$10,345

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BC

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
27/10/2026US$14,095

Treasure  ·  Treasure: Route BCA

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
29/10/2026US$3,352

MONIQUE  ·  4-Day Southern Islands: Santa Cruz's Wild Tortoises

Punta Cormorant, day 2

Stragglers16 spotsAsk about this date
29/10/2026US$13,490

Tribute  ·  Tribute: Route CA

Punta Cormorant, day 9

Stragglers7 spotsAsk about this date
30/10/2026US$4,150

Solaris  ·  5-Day Southern Islands: Devil's Crown Hammerhead Sharks

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers2 spotsAsk about this date
30/10/2026US$10,345

Solaris  ·  Solaris: Route CA

Punta Cormorant, day 3

Stragglers1 spotAsk about this date

What's included

✓All meals on board

✓Two certified national park naturalist guides

✓All excursions and landings listed in the itinerary

✓Snorkelling gear and wetsuit

✓Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards on board

✓Coffee, tea and water at any time

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María Fernanda Ortiz
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from US$1,800
1011 departures